THACKER o@ca.on.manitoulin.howland.little_current.manitoulin_expositor 2003-12-17 published
John BATEMAN
McQUAY
In loving memory of John
BATEMAN
McQUAY,
October 11, 1921 to December 12, 2003.
John Bateman
McQUAY, a resident of Mindemoya, died peacefully on
Friday, December 12, 2003, in Mindemoya Hospital, at the age of 82 years.
He was born in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba,
son of the late
Doctor Russell and Gladys
(SAUNDERS)
McQUAY.
The family moved to
Mindemoya in 1934, where Russell set up a medical practice.
Following his father's footsteps, John graduated as a medical doctor
from the Faculty of Medicine at Queen's University in 1944. He
married Mary
TURNBULL in the same year, and interned in Kingston. In
1947 they moved to Mindemoya, where he joined his father's medical
practice. He quickly became known and loved as "Doctor Jack". After
his father became disabled in 1949, Doctor Jack served as the only
doctor in the area until 1970, when other doctors began to arrive.
He continued faithfully serving the community in full-time practice
until 1991, easing into retirement over the next decade.
Doctor Jack loved his vocation as family practitioner, and was dedicated
to his patients. He worked long hours, making hospital rounds in the
morning, seeing patients in the afternoon and sometimes in the
evening, and calmly handling emergencies at any hour of the day or
night. For many years he held a weekly clinic in West Bay. He often
visited patients in their homes, and in the days before ambulance
service, even brought patients to the hospital himself. He was a
skilled physician who performed many kinds of surgery, but his
greatest enjoyment was delivering babies, and he estimated he
delivered over 2000 babies in his career. He also served as coroner
for Manitoulin and the North Shore for 20 years. In 1991 the College
of Family Physicians of Canada presented him with a Special
Recognition Award for his outstanding service.
Doctor Jack will also be remembered for his dedication to his community.
As Chair of the Board of Central Manitoulin High School, he worked to
establish the Manitoulin Secondary School, serving all of the Island.
As founding member of the Manitoulin Centennial Board, he helped set
up the Manor in Little Current. He served as President of the
Mindemoya Area Chamber of Commerce in the 1960s. He was a founding
member of the Central Manitoulin Lions Club, and later received the
Lions' Melvin Jones Fellow award for dedicated humanitarian services.
He was a modest person, but he greatly appreciated this recognition.
He was also a founding member of the Mindemoya Curling Club. In
1994, the Carnarvon Township named him as Citizen of the Year, and in
September 2003, in ill health, he was particularly pleased when
Central Manitoulin Township presented him with its Senior of the Year
award. He and his wife Mary were members of St. Francis of Assisi
Anglican Church. For relaxation, Jack and Mary very much enjoyed
curling, playing bridge, and golfing. He loved playing the piano,
and his other hobbies included photography, stamp collecting,
gardening, swimming and sailing on Lake Mindemoya, and rug hooking.
Doctor Jack was devoted to his family, who will remember his
encouragement and loving support. Dearly loved and loving husband of
Mary McQUAY (predeceased.) Loved father of Marilyn (husband Martin
CHILTON) of Kingston, Paul (wife
Marion
CARROLL) of Fort McMurray,
Alta, Janice
McQUAY of Mindemoya and Betty
McQUAY of Toronto. Also
survived by Athena
McQUAY of Edmonton. Proud grandfather of Peter
McQUAY, Jane
HOEKSTRA (husband Terry), Stephen
McQUAY and Jim
CHILTON
and great grandchildren Ethan, Sydney and Liam. Dear brother of Mary
Alice THACKER of Ottawa, Ann
GAGE (husband James) of Hartford, Conn.,
Thomas McQUAY, wife
Barbara of Mindemoya. Predeceased by sister
Margaret KYDD and her husband Gordon, and brother-in-law Doug
THACKER.
Also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Friends called the St. Francis of Assisi Church, Mindemoya on
Tuesday, December 16. The funeral service will be conducted at the
church on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 at 2 p.m. with Reverend Canon Bain
Peever officiating. Culgin Funeral Home
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